Ray Palmer died 3/29/1887, at Newark, New Jersey. Palmer attended Phillips Andover Academy (he and Oliver Wendell Holmes were classmates there) and Yale University. He taught at a young ladies’ school (New York) and at a ladies’ college (Connecticut). Later Palmer was ordained a Congregational minister (1835) and pastored in Bath, Maine and Albany, New York.

Palmer wrote the above lyrics about the time he graduated from Yale (21 years of age). It is said that Mason (a couple of years later) met Palmer on a street in Boston, and asked him to write something for a new hymnal. Palmer gave him these words. Mason is reported to have told Palmer, “You may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of “My Faith Looks Up to Thee,” a correct prophesy. Song has been translated into over twenty (20) languages. Ray was born 11/12/1808, at Little Compton, Rhode Island.

Jonathan Edwards died this date, 3/22/1758, at Princeton, New Jersey. He became a powerful preacher, an evangelical theologian, and missionary to the American Indians. His daughter, Jerusha Edwards (one of his eleven children), would perhaps have married David Brainerd had David not died prematurely. Edwards was born 10/5/1703, at East Windsor, Connecticut.

Edwards became a beleiver inoculations, was inoculated for small pox and died from the inoculations.

I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,
And all its riches freely mine;
Here shines undimmed one blissful day,
For all my night has passed away.

Refrain

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My Heav’n, my home forever more!

My Savior comes and walks with me,
And sweet communion here have we;
He gently leads me by His hand,
For this is Heaven’s border land.

A sweet perfume upon the breeze,
Is borne from ever vernal trees,
And flow’rs, that never fading grow
Where streams of life forever flow.

The zephyrs seem to float to me,
Sweet sounds to Heaven’s melody,
As angels with the white robed throng
Join in the sweet redemption song.

Edgar Page Stites died this date, 1/9/1921 at Cape May, New Jersey. He was converted to Christ 1857 at the great awakening of Philadelphia. He once was employed as a ri­ver­boat pi­lot on the Del­a­ware River. Stites also did a stint as a home mis­sion­ary in the Da­ko­ta Ter­ri­tory. But mainly he was associated with New Jersey and with the Methodist there (be­longed to the First Meth­o­dist Church in Cape May for 60 years). Edgar, with ministers and Methodist laymen, founded the “Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.” He is remembered today for the above and “Trusting Jesus.” He was born 3/22/1836, at (where else J) Cape May, New Jersey.

Elisabeth Alden Scott (Mrs. Betty Stam) was born in China, 2/22/1906, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles E. Scott, Presbyterian missionaries. Betty dedicated her life to the Lord at Keswick, New Jersey, Bible Conference. She then went to Moody Bible Institute, where she met John Stam.

John Stam was born 1/9/1907 at Paterson, New Jersey. Betty shipped our for China in 1931. John arrived in 1932, and they were married in October of ‘33. God blessed them with a daughter, Helen Priscilla, the following September at Wuhu, Anhwei Province.

They were sent to Tsingtch, Anhwei, in November 1934. The Stams were captured by Chinese Communist bandits the morning of December 6, and they both were beheaded two days later. God allowed Helen Priscilla to be preserved and to be returned to the States.

It has been stated that the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam did more to inspire missions than any previous event in the history of Gospel work in China.

John Stam and Betty Stam were beheaded this date 12/8/1934, by the Communists in China.

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

Jeremiah Eames Rankin died this date, 11/28/1904, at Cleveland, Ohio. He was a Congregationalist who wrote “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” He pastored in Potsdam, New York, St. Albans, Vermont, Lowell, Massachusetts, Charlestown, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Orange, New Jersey. Rankin also was a professor of homiletics and pastoral theology (1878-’84) and from 1889 til his death was president of Howard University. He was born 1/2/1828, at Thornton, New Hampshire.

Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
That can evermore endure.

Refrain

And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

Mighty tides about me sweep,
Perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
For my anchor grips the rock.

I can feel the anchor fast
As I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, though unseen,
Bears the heavy strain between;
Through the storm I safely ride,
Till the turning of the tide.

Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

William Clark Martin died this date, 8/30/1914, at Ri­al­to, Florida. Martin pas­tored Grace Bap­tist Church (for­mer­ly Cra­mer’s Hill), Cam­den, New Jer­sey, No­ank Bap­tist Church, Noank, Con­nec­ti­cut, Grace Bap­tist Church, Som­er­ville, Massachusetts and First Bap­tist Church, Fort My­ers, Florida. (He seems to have had some connection also with Bluff­ton, In­di­a­na.) He also wrote “The Name of Jesus” “Still Sweeter Every Day” and at least 30 other songs. He was born 12/25/1864 at Hights­town, New Jersey.